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By James J. Lidington

Isle of Wight Academy

ISLE OF WIGHT

The IWA Cross Country Team travels to Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville on Thursday for the VIrginia Independent Schools Athletic Association’s annual meet, where the Chargers look to improve on last year’s impressive showing.

Jack Powell finished 69th in a large field in the 2018 boys race; Hannah Edwards finished 10th and Kaelyn Hooker, 12th, in the girls race last year.

Powell and Hooker took first place at the Virginia Commonwealth Conference Meet Oct. 24. IWA Coach Margarita Castillo was named VCC coach of the year.

The Chargers captured both the boys and girls team top titles at the Metro Conference Championships Oct. 28 at Windsor Castle Park.

In boys action, IWA’s Jack Powell finished second; Joseph Askew, fifth; Lucas Baylous, sixth and; Matthew Gaspar, eighth, as the Chargers claimed the overall crown.

IWA senior Kaelyn Hooker finished second; Hannah Edwards, third; Lorraine Upton and Olivia Upton, fifth and sixth, respectively; Alexandra Wilson, eighth, and; Hanna McClain, 10th, as the girls team finished atop its competitors.

Castillo also was named Metro coach of the year.

Football

The IWA football team was denied a berth in the VISAA Division II Tournament Sunday, when pairings were announced.

The Chargers had been defeated by Christchurch and Atlantic Shores, which made the field ahead of IWA. No. 4 Shores travels to No. 1-seeded North Cross this weekend for first-round play. The No. 3 seed Seahorses travel to No. 2 Blue Ridge School for their opener. The two winners will play next week for the Division II title.

In Division II, Portsmouth Christian and Fuqua also qualified for that tournament. Those teams are the only four to best the 5-4 Chargers this season.

JAMES J. LIDINGTON is a teacher at Isle of Wight Academy. Contact him at 357-3866.